Out of cluck: WHAS11 has reported The Chick Inn (6325 Upper River Road) is now closed, and that its owners are blaming the bad economy and ridiculously drawn out bridge closure along River Road as key culprits in its demise. One owner, Sharon Sheer, told the station that a proposed rent increase also played a role.
My question is: Was anyone even dining there? I pass it a few times a month—ALONG THE HARRODS CREEK BRIDGE DETOUR ROUTE—and rarely see cars in the lot. It's all but disappeared from my personal restaurant radar because I never hear anyone talk about it.
Sheer said it's possible it'll reopen elsewhere … but where? Part of why The Chick Inn has the reputation it does is because of its location. Not sure the concept will travel well unless it lands on River Road. Regardless of my hunches, I wish the group well.
And if I haven't stressed this point enough, the battle over that dilapidated and ugly little bridge has been ridiculous, and it's killing sales for business owners on either side of it. The preservationists who wanted it left alone have no regard for the businesses depending on that roadway as a lifeline. It should have been updated as quickly as possible, given the extra lane that it needs—what a preposterous argument to make that one lane made it romantic, traffic-mannerly or nostalgic—and gotten cars flowing through there again.
Fry, fry, fishy fry: And speaking of businesses you could get to quicker if the Harrods Creek Bridge were fixed … During Lent, everyone talks up the town's fish fries, and there are a fair number of good ones around. But like anything, we all have our favorites, and mine happens to be in my neck of the woods (Goshen) at the North Oldham Lions Club (12414 U.S. Hwy. 42).
Why so good and why should you drive out here to get your Friday feed on? First off, the fish is top quality. Good clean cod cooked perfectly, breaded lightly (no batter) and served hot with good fries and white or rye slices. It's sold by the pound (but since I've not been this year, I don't know what the going rate is yet) and in a drive-thru line. Yes, a drive-thru line by a team of folks who come right to your door, chat you up while taking your order and seem truly grateful you're there. The ingress and egress from Hwy. 42 is simple and smooth, and service is rapid.
I haven't been back to the Chick Inn after the new owners took over. The food just wasn't the same. Maybe they got their act together eventually but I'll never know now.
They did have the best bloody Mary, with those homemade pickles from some local guy.
I miss the old Bus Parsons restaurant too. Fun times.
We stopped going to Chick Inn years ago because of the terrible smoking there. You could not breathe. When it burned and was rebuilt, it was never all that great. The prices took a jump, and even the wonderful chicken wasn't worth the price of everything else. And then Cunninghams came to the old Bus Parson's restaurant with great fish and chicken and more modest pricing. That is what killed Chick Inn, not the bridge closure.
Lizin, I'm more inclined to buy this story than any others. I recall the smoke problem, too. Made breathing Louisville summmer ozone air seem like a treat.
When sales are slow because customers don't perceive the value in it, things like rent increases are just straws breaking camels' backs. Sometimes landlords even raise the rent to push out tenants that aren't doing well, then they lower them again for the next tenant.
view locals now online
Out of cluck: 
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